Wednesday, August 14, 2013

Instant analysis: Nats 6, Giants 5

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Game in a nutshell: Jordan Zimmermann's evening got off to a rocky start, but the Nationals took care of their right-hander by pouncing on Tim Lincecum for six runs, five of them coming in the bottom of the fourth. Zimmermann battled through his struggles to post seven innings of one-run ball, leaving the Nationals bullpen a 5-run lead with only six outs to record. That proved more of a challenge than anyone would have liked. Ian Krol served up a homer to Brandon Belt in the eighth. Ryan Mattheus then failed to retire any of the three batters he faced, forcing Davey Johnson to summon Tyler Clippard to put out the fire. Clippard, as he so often does, came through with two huge strikeouts. Rafael Soriano gave up a run with two outs in the ninth and put the tying runner on second but got a huge catch from Denard Span to end the game and finish off his 31st save, securing the Nationals' fifth straight victory. It's only the second time this year they've won five straight (the other came in early May). They'll go for the sweep tomorrow, with a chance to get back to the .500 mark.

Hitting highlight: Yes, the five-run fourth inning (in which the Nationals sent 10 men to the plate) was mighty impressive. But so, too, was Ian Desmond's solo blast in the bottom of the second. It traveled 448 feet, the longest home run by a Nationals player this season according to ESPN's Hit Tracker. Now the really amazing part: That homer made Desmond 10-for-12 in his career against Lincecum. His 2.166 OPS is the highest for any player who has received at least 12 at-bats against Lincecum in his career. That's not too shabby.

Pitching highlight: This won't go down as Zimmermann's best start of the year by any stretch of the imagination, but it should go down as an impressive effort by the right-hander, who looked to be in serious trouble early but battled back and churned out seven innings of 1-run ball. When he departed the mound in the fourth, Zimmermann had already thrown 82 pitches and didn't appear to have much left in him. But then the Nationals handed him a five-run lead and he responded with three shutdown innings on 30 total pitches. That's what a good pitcher does in that situation, and surprisingly Zimmermann has struggled in those situations in the past. This time, he delivered when he needed to, and because of it he now leads the NL with 14 wins.

Key stat: Since the All-Star break, the Nats are now 10-2 against teams with losing records and 1-11 against teams with winning records.

Up next: The series (and the homestand) concludes with a 4:05 p.m. game on Thursday. Dan Haren looks to continue his midseason surge against right-hander Ryan Vogelsong.

Interesting comment by Davey. Davey said that he had a bad feeling as soon as he sent Mattheus in and told McCatty right away that they were going to have to warm Clippard up. McCatty said to wait a batter so Davey waited and then it happened so quick it was almost too late to fix. Also said that he has to get more out of the bullpen because he can't keep going to Clip and Soriano so much.

Davey sez he has no confidence in Mattheus anymore. Neither do I. Can someone explain how Mattheus remains on the 25-man, much less the 40-man? He's pitched worse than Storen, and we all know where that landed him.

Soriano has his nerve untucking after that save. Scutaro almost took him deep and Denard saved him after he served them up like batting practice. 5 hard hit balls. Nothing to be proud of it. He should have snuck into the dugout like Matheus. He didn't pitch any better.

Valiant effort by Jordan and the rest of the team playing with more energy. Davey needs to manage the team and learn to keep his mouth shut and his comments in the clubhouse. So much for being a players manager. Cannot wait for this era to end. Also cannot wait to see Tyler Moire and Drew Storen.

paul brandt said... 128, agree, Davey should not be saying in a presser that Mattheus doesn't have it or he had a bad feeling about him...what a stupid thing to say publicly...yikes.

August 14, 2013 10:30 PM

I had it taped and just watched it. I can't believe Davey said that about one of his players. Can't say I've ever heard a Coach publicly say that about a player on TV. I can only imagine what he has said to McCatty about Henry.

I realize the sample size is extremely small, but the last few games, Zim has played very good defense. I'm not sure if he's still playing so shallow or not, but he's made some great rangy plays and good throws.

David Proctor said... I realize the sample size is extremely small, but the last few games, Zim has played very good defense. I'm not sure if he's still playing so shallow or not, but he's made some great rangy plays and good throws.

I just hope it lasts.

August 14, 2013 11:24 PM

I don't think there's any coincidence that Davey made his comments about RZim to Amanda and RZim instantly improved. He's gone from poor to looking above average and most of it seems to be that he is laying out for balls and throwing harder to 1st.

Folks, I just got home from the game. Have a couple of things to say. First, WODL, You can KMFA. Off the bat, I thought, and said, "No way can he get to that." What a catch!

Swami, in my opinion, you're wrong and Davey is right. Everybody was thrilled a couple of weeks ago when Knorr called Soriano out. Well, Davey in effect called Ryan Mattheus out tonight, with much more cause than Knorr had on Soriano. Mattheus is showing himself to be a self centered, undependable punk on the mound this year, and Davey made it clear that he needs help from his bullpen. Expect to see someone cut tomorrow and some one called up.Mattheus deserved to be publicly humiliated by his manager.

BTW, We made a day of it. We got down to the where we park on the west side of the stadium at 3:00 and walked along the east side of the ballpark by the river. The park there is beautiful! Also, there is a handful of new eateries to soon open. We spent a couple hours at the bar at the Gordon Biersch Pub. The crowd was friendly, the food was very good, and the beer was fantastic!

Span did untuck, so I don't think it's fair to criticize Soriano for that. You know he was relieved and grateful for the great defense. Sometimes you pick up your teammates, and sometimes they pick you up. That's how it works on good teams.

Very entertaining game and satisfying game. JZnn really settled down and did his job after we got the lead. The crowd gave him a great ovation after the 7th. Rendon had some really fine defensive plays tonight. He's got a cannon for an arm too. Whoa! And that two run double was key.

Harper's little brain freeze on that popup was troubling. Ever notice that he's kind of the anti-Span on routes to fly balls? Even on easy plays he kind of wanders toward the ball. Odd.

No- you are incorrectly assuming that Davey has a reason for saying something. He actually does not seem to think at all before he speaks. Adam Kilgore has referenced in his articles that it has been an issue that he reveals confidences to the press and says things that should be said privately in the clubhouse. I don't think I have ever heard a manager be so absolutely thoughtless with his words. Well, maybe Billy Martin.

I said what I said about Mattheus first because of his immature, punkish stunt earlier with punching the locker and breaking his hand. The club was depending on him,and who can say how much he cost us in wins and losses? Not to mention he's still costing us because of the same incident. His trouble, or ineffectiveness is all self induced and I feel no pity for him.Give me Eric Davis.

Mattheus has been horse-bleep lately. Davey had every right calling out the guy. And I guarantee you he didn't let it slip out. There was a reason. Mattheus will be sent down tommorrow or show up on the DL with that same elbow ailment that, ahem, sidelined Haren two months ago.

Davey isn't without reason for publicly saying what he said. He was pissed when Ryan hit the locker and he lost his services early in the year and he hasn't forgiven him. If Ryan came back and pitched intelligently he would've got back in Johnson's good graces. Instead, he comes out and rushes between pitches, and can't get one or two batters out. Send him home to his momma until he grows up.

Sure, Sunshine, that's what they were, Pittsburg call letters.Look, Span saved tonight's game more than Raffy Soriano. Denard has been disappointing in his offensive production, but that catch was the epitome of what Denard brings to the table. I don't always agree with Phil Wood, but he said tonight that some centerfielders make the ordinary play look spectacular while others make the spectacular play look ordinary, and that Denard Span fits the bill as the later. Nicely said, Phil.

Totally agree, Mr. Seamhead. Tonight's catch was one of the few that Span actually had to dive to get. Most of the time he's cruising. Makes it look easy. Pitching and defense wins championship. Span fits the bill in that approach. Let's be patient with him. Not all games are won on offense, despite WOLD's run differential babbledygook on the subject.

Watched this one in real time, and that catch was Spantastic! Nice work by Tarasco and Zuk on the postgame splashing. Still don't know who was manning the other side of the cooler last night, along with the bat boy, but I wondered whether it was also a coach. Oh, and Timmy? You can wash that cap now. I'm pretty sure it's not lucky.

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About the Author

Mark Zuckerman has covered the Nationals since the franchise arrived in D.C. He's been a member of the Baseball Writers' Association of America since 2001 and is a Hall of Fame voter. Email mzuckerman@comcastsportsnet.com.